Electrical energy apparatuses, electrical energy conditioning circuits, and electrical energy supply methods

ABSTRACT

Power supply apparatuses and methods of supplying electrical energy are provided. According to one aspect, a power supply apparatus includes an electrochemical device configured to store electrical energy, a first interface coupled with the electrochemical device and adapted to couple with a supply configured to provide electrical energy and a first load configured to receive electrical energy, and charge circuitry coupled intermediate the first interface and the electrochemical device, wherein the charge circuitry is configured to monitor a quantity of electrical energy supplied from the supply to the first load and to control a supply of electrical energy to the electrochemical device responsive to the monitoring and to charge the electrochemical device.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] This invention relates to power supply apparatuses and methods ofsupplying electrical energy.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The sophistication and uses of electrical devices have increaseddramatically in recent years. Consumer items having electricalcomponents are ubiquitous in communications, computing, entertainment,etc. The size of mobile telephones, notebook computers, music players,and other devices has continued to decrease while the capabilities andquality of the devices continues to increase as modern electroniccomponents used in such devices are developed and improved upon.

[0003] Numerous people rely upon or have grown accustomed to usage ofelectrical consumer devices for business, education, or for other needs.Electronic consumer devices are increasingly portable to accommodatethese needs during travels from home or the workplace. Thesophistication and capabilities of power supplies for such devices havealso improved to meet the requirements of the electronic consumerdevices. For example, cost, size, and capacity are some productcharacteristics which have been improved for the portable power suppliesfor electronic applications. There is a desire to enhance these andother design parameters of power supplies, including portable powersupplies, to accommodate increasing power requirements of modernelectronic consumer devices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004] Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below withreference to the following accompanying drawings.

[0005]FIG. 1 is an illustrative representation of an exemplary powersupply apparatus according to aspects of the present invention.

[0006]FIG. 2 is an illustrative representation of exemplary internalcomponents of the power supply apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0007]FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram illustrating components of anexemplary power supply apparatus according to aspects of the presentinvention.

[0008]FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary first interface of apower supply apparatus.

[0009]FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary second interface ofa power supply apparatus.

[0010]FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary high-power connectorof a power supply apparatus.

[0011]FIG. 7 is a map illustrating how FIGS. 7A-7C are to be arranged.

[0012] FIGS. 7A-7C are schematic diagrams of exemplary charge circuitryof a power supply apparatus.

[0013]FIG. 8 is a map illustrating how FIGS. 8A-8B are to be arranged.

[0014] FIGS. 8A-8B are schematic diagrams of an exemplary boostconverter of a power supply apparatus.

[0015]FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary low-power connectorof a power supply apparatus.

[0016]FIG. 10 is a map illustrating how FIGS. 10A-10B are to bearranged.

[0017] FIGS. 10A-10B are schematic diagrams of an exemplary step-downconverter of a power supply apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] This disclosure of the invention is submitted in furtherance ofthe constitutional purposes of the U.S. Patent Laws “to promote theprogress of science and useful arts” (Article 1, Section 8).

[0019] According to one aspect of the invention, a power supplyapparatus comprises an electrochemical device configured to storeelectrical energy, a first interface coupled with the electrochemicaldevice and adapted to couple with a supply configured to provideelectrical energy and a first load configured to receive electricalenergy and charge circuitry coupled intermediate the first interface andthe electrochemical device, wherein the charge circuitry is configuredto monitor a quantity of electrical energy supplied from the supply tothe first load and to control a supply of electrical energy to theelectrochemical device responsive to the monitoring and to charge theelectrochemical device.

[0020] According to a second aspect of the invention, a power supplyapparatus comprises an electrochemical device configured to storeelectrical energy, a first interface coupled with the electrochemicaldevice and adapted to couple with a supply configured to provideelectrical energy and a first load configured to receive electricalenergy and a boost converter coupled intermediate the electrochemicaldevice and the first interface and configured to receive electricalenergy from the electrochemical device, to operate in an enabled mode ofoperation to increase a voltage of the electrical energy received fromthe electrochemical device and to provide the electrical energy of theincreased voltage to the first interface for application to the firstload, to detect a presence of the supply, and to operate in a disabledmode of operation wherein the boost converter ceases provision of theelectrical energy to the first interface responsive to the detection ofthe presence of the supply.

[0021] According to another aspect of the invention, a power supplyapparatus comprises electrical energy storage circuitry comprising alithium cell having a lithium-mixed metal electrode, an interfacecoupled with the storage circuitry and adapted to couple with a supplyconfigured to provide electrical energy and a load configured to receiveelectrical energy and circuitry coupled intermediate the interface andthe electrochemical device, wherein the circuitry is configured to applyelectrical energy from the supply to the storage circuitry to charge thestorage circuitry and to apply electrical energy from the storagecircuitry to the interface for application to the load.

[0022] Another aspect of the invention provides a method of supplyingelectrical energy comprising first applying electrical energy from asupply to a load, second applying electrical energy from anelectrochemical device to the load, charging the electrochemical deviceusing electrical energy from the supply, monitoring the first applyingand controlling the charging responsive to the monitoring

[0023] According to another aspect of the invention, a method ofsupplying electrical energy comprises providing electrical energy usingan electrochemical device, adjusting an electrical characteristic of theelectrical energy from the electrochemical device, providing theelectrical energy from the electrochemical device to a load after theadjusting, detecting the presence of a supply and ceasing the providingof the electrical energy from the electrochemical device to the loadresponsive to the detecting.

[0024] According to yet another aspect of the invention, a method ofsupplying electrical energy comprises providing a battery comprising aplurality of electrochemical devices individually comprising a lithiumcell having a lithium-mixed metal electrode, coupling a supply with thebattery, coupling the lithium cells with a load, charging the lithiumcells using the supply, disconnecting the supply and applying electricalenergy from the lithium cells to the load when the supply isdisconnected from the load.

[0025] Referring to FIG. 1, an exemplary arrangement of a power supplyapparatus 10 according to aspects of the present invention is shown.Power supply apparatus 10 is arranged to provide electrical energy toone or more load (not shown in FIG. 1). In at least one aspect of thepresent invention, power supply apparatus 10 is arranged to providehigh-power electrical energy to high-power loads having power ratings,for example, in excess of 20 watts (and having exemplary operationalvoltages of 16-20 Volts or more)and low-power electrical energy tolow-power loads having power ratings, for example, less than 20 watts(and having exemplary operational voltages less than 12 Volts).

[0026] In exemplary applications, power supply apparatus 10 is arrangedas a portable device configured to provide portable electrical energy toportable loads or devices. Exemplary high-power loads include notebookcomputers and exemplary low-power loads include personal digitalassistants (PDAs), mobile telephones, etc. Power supply apparatus 10 maybe utilized to provide electrical power to other devices or may beconfigured in other arrangements to power devices of other wattageratings. The particular arrangement of power supply apparatus 10 may bemodified and tailored to accommodate the energy requirements of theutilized load(s). Power supply apparatus 10 may be utilized to provideelectrical energy to one load (e.g., one high-power load or low-powerload) at a given moment in time, or simultaneously provide electricalenergy to one or more high-power load or one or more low-power load.Other arrangements besides portable energy applications includingpermanent arrangements or semi-permanent arrangements for providingelectrical energy may also be implemented.

[0027] The illustrated exemplary power supply apparatus 10 includes ahousing 12 configured to house electrical energy storage circuitry(exemplary storage circuitry is shown in FIG. 2). The depictedarrangement of power supply apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1 includes one ormore indicator 14 configured to provide charge status information ofstorage circuitry and/or power supply apparatus 10. In the depictedexemplary embodiment, indicator 14 is implemented as a plurality oflight emitting diodes (LEDs).

[0028] The depicted power supply apparatus 10 further includes a firstconnector 16 and a second connector 18. First connector 16 and secondconnector 18 are configured to couple with external devices or loads andto supply electrical energy to loads coupled therewith and/or receiveelectrical energy from a supply coupled therewith. Connectors 16, 18have appropriate receptacle(s) to accommodate cables or otherconnections utilized for coupling with the respective individual loadsand/or supply. In the depicted exemplary arrangement, first connector 16includes a receptacle 20 configured to receive a cable or otherconnection to couple with an external supply (not shown) and a secondreceptacle 22 configured to receive a cable or other connection forcoupling with a load. Connector 18 includes a receptacle 24 which isconfigured to couple with a load in the illustrated configuration.

[0029] An appropriate supply (shown in FIG. 3) can comprise anyconvenient source of electrical power, such as a utility line,generator, alternator, etc. If the supply is implemented as analternating current supply, a rectifier (not shown) may be utilized toprovide direct current electrical energy. Power supply apparatus 10 isconfigured to provide such received electrical energy to a load coupledwith receptacle 22 and/or to utilize such received electrical energy tocharge storage circuitry of apparatus 10. Electrical energy storedwithin power supply apparatus 10 may also be provided to a load coupledwith receptacle 22 or to a load coupled with second connector 18.

[0030] As mentioned previously, power supply apparatus 10 is arranged tosupply electrical power to loads of different configurations and havingdifferent energy ratings or requirements for proper operation. Forexample, a first load may require or utilize electrical energy of afirst voltage while another appropriate load may utilize electricalenergy of a second voltage. In the described exemplary configuration,first connector 16 is a high-power connection and second connector 18 isa low-power connection.

[0031] A plurality of possible connectors 16, 18 are available toprovide appropriate connection of power supply apparatus 10 withrespective loads Once a load is identified, the appropriate connectorcorresponding thereto is selected by the user and utilized to coupleapparatus 10 with the load and/or supply. Connectors 16, 18 areconfigured to provide appropriate electrical energy to correspondingload devices and also configure power supply apparatus 10 as describedfurther below.

[0032] Referring to FIG. 2, additional details of an exemplary powersupply apparatus 10 are described. The depicted arrangement of powersupply apparatus 10 includes electrical energy storage circuitry 30configured to receive, store and supply electrical energy.

[0033] Storage circuitry 30 includes one or more electrochemical device32 in exemplary embodiments. In the illustrated arrangement of FIG. 2,four electrochemical devices 32 are provided and are coupled in seriesto form a battery. According to one embodiment of the invention,electrochemical devices 32 are individually implemented as a lithiumcell having a lithium-mixed metal electrode. Further details regardingan exemplary lithium cell having a lithium-mixed metal electrode arediscussed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/484,799, entitled“Lithium-based Active Materials and Preparation Thereof”, listing JeremyBarker as an inventor, filed Jan. 18, 2000, and incorporated herein byreference.

[0034] A particular configuration of power supply apparatus 10 may bedictated by an application in which it will be used to supply electricalenergy. Electrochemical devices 32 implemented as lithium cellsindividually having a lithium-mixed metal electrode are individuallyconfigured in at least one arrangement to provide a voltage ofapproximately 3.7 Volts in a substantially charged state or condition.In the depicted exemplary arrangement, four electrochemical devices 32are coupled in series to provide electrical energy to an appropriateload. In such a configuration, electrical energy is provided at avariable voltage range of 8 to 14.8 Volts from storage circuitry 30 witha nominal voltage of 13.2 Volts during typical operations.

[0035] In another possible embodiment, two banks of devices 32 arecoupled in parallel to provide the electrical energy. Individual banksmay include four such electrochemical devices 32 arranged in series. Inan exemplary configuration comprising four series arrangedelectrochemical devices 32, power supply apparatus 10 may be utilized in60 watt applications. In the configuration including eightelectrochemical devices 32, power supply apparatus 10 may be utilized toprovide electrical energy in 130 watt applications. Other configurationsof power supply apparatus 10 including more or less cells arranged inseries and/or parallel are contemplated and may be utilized in otherenergy applications having other energy current, voltage or wattagespecifications.

[0036] Power supply apparatus 10 additionally includes circuitry 34configured to control and monitor operations of apparatus 10. Forexample, circuitry 34 controls and implements charging, maintenance, anddischarging of electrochemical devices 32 as well as conditioning ofelectrical energy extracted from electrochemical devices 32.

[0037] Exemplary circuitry 34 includes a first interface 36 and a secondinterface 38. First and second interfaces 36, 38 are individuallyconfigured to electrically couple with a respective one of firstconnector 16 and second connector 18. In the depicted exemplaryembodiment, first and second interfaces 36, 38 comprise a plurality ofelectrical connection pins configured to mate with respective electricalconnections such as receptacles (not shown) of connectors 16, 18.Connectors 16, 18 and interfaces 36, 38 are configured for removableelectrical coupling enabling different configurations of first andsecond connectors 16, 18 to be utilized with the power supply apparatus10 and corresponding to the loads and supplies to be coupled withapparatus 10. Further details regarding one possible arrangement ofcircuitry 34 are discussed herein with respect to the block diagram ofFIG. 3 and schematic diagrams depicted in FIGS. 4-10.

[0038] Referring to FIG. 3, operations of one exemplary embodiment ofpower supply apparatus 10 are described with respect to a plurality ofcomponents of circuitry 34 of apparatus 10. The depicted electricalcomponents of circuitry 34 are illustrated within housing 12 in thedescribed arrangement. Such may be implemented using a printed circuitboard.

[0039] In accordance with one exemplary embodiment, circuitry 34includes storage circuitry 30, first interface 36, second interface 38,a boost converter 40, charge circuitry 42, switch device circuitry 44, acapacity monitor 46, and a step-down converter 48. Componentsintermediate switch device circuitry 44 and first interface 36 may bereferred to as high-power circuitry 50 and components intermediateswitch device circuitry 44 and second interface 38 may be referred to aslow-power circuitry 52.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 3, first interface 36 is configured to removablyelectrically couple with connector 16, which may comprise a high-powerconnector, and second interface 38 is configured to removablyelectrically couple with connector 18, which may be referred to as alow-power connector. Connector 16 is coupled with a supply 60, such asan AC adapter providing rectified electrical energy, and a high-powerload 62, such as a notebook computer in the illustrated arrangement.Low-power connector 18 is coupled with a low-power load 64, such as amobile telephone, PDA, etc.

[0041] As described further below, interfaces 36, 38 are coupled withand provide electrical energy from storage circuitry 30 to respectiveloads 62, 64 using respective connectors 16, 18. In addition, firstinterface 36 is arranged in the exemplary embodiment to receiveelectrical energy from supply 60 coupled with connector 16. Further,interfaces 36, 38 are arranged to receive control signals fromconnectors 16, 18 which control operations of circuitry 34 (e.g.,voltage conversion operations) as described in more detail herein.

[0042] Supply 60 and storage circuitry 30 provide electrical energy forusage within high-power load 62 and/or low-power load 64. Referring tooperations of circuitry 50, one or both of supply 60 and high-power load62 may be coupled with connector 16 at any given time. As discussedfurther below, when supply 60 is coupled with high-power connector 16,boost converter 40 is disabled and high-power load 62 receiveselectrical energy from supply 60. If high-power load 62 is not utilizingmaximum electrical energy from supply 60 (i.e., not consuming allavailable power from supply 60), such reserve or extra remaining energymay be utilized to charge storage circuitry 30 using charge circuitry42. When supply 60 is not coupled with high-power connector 16 andconnector 16 is coupled with interface 36, boost converter 40 is enabledto supply electrical energy from storage circuitry 30 to high-power load62.

[0043] Charge circuitry 42 is configured to control and implementcharging and conditioning operations of storage circuitry 30. Chargecircuitry 42 is coupled intermediate first interface 36 and storagecircuitry 30 including one or more electrochemical device 32. In anexemplary configuration, charge circuitry 42 is implemented as acurrent-sense circuit having product designation LT1621 available fromLinear Technology Corporation and a battery charger having productdesignation LTC1735 available from Linear Technology Corporation.Further components of charge circuitry 42 are illustrated in FIGS. 7A-7Caccording to one exemplary embodiment.

[0044] Charge circuitry 42 is configured to monitor a quantity ofelectrical energy supplied from supply 60 to high-power load 62.Responsive to such monitoring, charge circuitry 42 controls a supply ofelectrical energy from supply 60 to storage circuitry 30 to charge oneor more electrochemical device 32. Charge circuitry 42 is arranged inthe described configuration to assure that load 62 receives adequateelectrical energy for proper operation.

[0045] In one possible embodiment, high-power connector 16 includes asense resistor which is utilized by charge circuitry 42 to implementmonitoring operations of energy being provided by supply 60 to load 62and/or circuitry 34. An exemplary sense resistor is depicted in FIG. 6as reference 70 and is coupled with charge circuitry 42. The senseresistor is coupled in series with supply 60 to monitor electricalenergy received from supply 60 within high-power connector 16 and to beprovided to high-power load 62 and/or circuitry 34. If a voltage dropacross the sense resistor exceeds a predetermined value (e.g., 80 mV),charge circuitry 42 reduces or impedes current drawn by circuitry 34from high-power connector 16 for charging or other operations to assurethat high-power load 62 receives appropriate electrical power for properoperation. If not all available electrical energy from supply 60 isutilized to power load 62, such electrical energy is utilized by chargecircuitry 42 to charge and/or maintain storage circuitry 30 and/orprovide power to low-power load 64.

[0046] Capacity monitor 46 is configured to monitor a state of charge ofelectrochemical devices 32 of storage circuitry 30. Capacity monitor 46is coupled with switch device circuitry 44 and is configured to controlsuch switch device circuitry 44 responsive to the monitoring. In oneembodiment, switch device circuitry 44 includes a charge field effecttransistor (FET) and a discharge field effect transistor which arecontrolled to implement charging, discharging and maintenanceoperations. In one arrangement, capacity monitor 46 is implemented usingproduct designation BQ2060, available from Texas InstrumentsIncorporated.

[0047] Boost converter 40 is coupled intermediate storage circuitry 30and first interface 36. Boost converter 40 is configured to receiveelectrical energy from storage circuitry 30 and to increase a voltage ofthe electrical energy. According to an exemplary embodiment whereinstorage circuitry 30 includes four series coupled lithium cellelectrochemical devices 32, electrical energy having a nominal voltageof 13.2 Volts is provided and received by boost converter 40. Exemplaryhigh-power loads (e.g., notebook computers) utilize electrical energy ata voltage of approximately 19.4 Volts. Boost converter 40 in oneexemplary configuration increases the voltage of electrical energyreceived from storage circuitry 30 (e.g., 13.2 Volts) to electricalenergy having an increased voltage (e.g., 19.5 Volts). As describedfurther below, connector 16 is arranged in at least one configuration tocontrol the output voltage of converter 40 corresponding to therespective load 62 coupled with connector 16.

[0048] As mentioned above, boost converter 40 is configured to operatein an enabled mode of operation and a disabled mode of operation. Uponconnection or coupling of high-power connector 16 with interface 36,boost converter 40 is provided in the enabled mode of operation. Whenhigh-power connector 16 is coupled with a supply 60 and receiveselectrical energy therefrom (and connector 16 is also coupled withinterface 36), boost converter 40 is provided in a disabled mode ofoperation wherein the boost converter 40 ceases provision of electricalenergy to first interface 36. In one exemplary arrangement, boostconverter 40 is configured to detect the presence of supply 60 and toenter the disabled mode of operation responsive to the detection of thepresence of the supply 60. During operation in the enabled mode ofoperation, boost converter 40 provides electrical energy of an increasedvoltage to first interface 36 for application to load 62.

[0049] As mentioned, individual loads 62, 64 may have differentconfigurations and utilize electrical energy having different electricalcharacteristics (e.g., different voltages). Boost converter 40 isconfigured in at least one embodiment to accommodate differentconfigurations of load 62 which may be coupled with first interface 36.For example, the voltage of electrical energy outputted from converter40 may be tailored to the specific load 62. In one embodiment, connector16 controls the output voltage of converter 40.

[0050] Connector 16 is configured for use with the respective high-powerload 62. For example, receptacles and connection configurations ofhigh-power connector 16 are arranged according to the design ofhigh-power load 62. Internal circuitry of high-power connector 16 mayalso be tailored for the respective configuration of high-power load 62.In one arrangement, high-power connector 16 includes a resistor todefine the voltage of electrical energy outputted from boost converter40.

[0051] An exemplary embodiment of high-power connector 16 is shown inFIG. 6. The depicted configuration of connector 16 includes a pull-downresistor 72 which is coupled with boost converter 40 to control theoutput voltage. As shown in FIG. 6, the exemplary pull-down resistor hasa value of 6.19 kOhms which provides a regulated output voltage ofapproximately 19.5 Volts from converter 40 when used with a pull-upresistor 74 shown in the exemplary configuration of boost converter 40illustrated in FIGS. 8A-8B and having a resistance of 90.7 kOhms.Different high-power connectors 16 may include respective pull-downresistors 72 of different values to provide electrical energy ofdifferent voltages which correspond to respective high-power loads 62for which the high-power connectors 16 will be used. In the describedarrangement, connector 16 including resistor 74 is configured to controlboost converter 40 to provide electrical energy of a substantiallyconstant voltage corresponding to a respective load 62. Although thevoltage of electrochemical devices 32 of storage circuitry 30 maydecrease during discharging, boost converter 40 is arranged to provideelectrical energy to a first interface 36 and load 62 having asubstantially constant voltage according to resistors 72, 74.

[0052] As illustrated in FIG. 3, electrical energy is provided forutilization within low-power load 64. The depicted exemplaryconfiguration of low-power circuitry 52 includes step-down converter 48intermediate switch device circuitry 44 and second interface 38.Step-down converter 48 is operable to provide electrical energy havingdifferent electrical characteristics (e.g., electrical energy ofdifferent voltages) corresponding to particular loads 64 coupled withsecond interface 38 similar to converter 40.

[0053] Step-down converter 48 is arranged to receive electrical energyfrom electrochemical device 32, to decrease a voltage of the electricalenergy received from electrochemical device 32, and to provide theelectrical energy of the decreased voltage to second interface 38 forapplication to load 64 coupled therewith. Connector 18 controls theoutputted voltage of converter 48 in the described embodiment. Withreference to an exemplary connector 18 shown in FIG. 9, a pull-downresistor 76 having a value of 34 kOhms is utilized to control thevoltage of electrical energy provided to low-power load 64. Differentlow-power connectors 18 may have different pull-down resistors 76providing different resistance values which correspond to the low-powerload 64 to be utilized with power supply apparatus 10. Accordingly,other pull-down resistors 76 may be provided within other configurationsof low-power connector 18 if such respective loads 64 utilize electricalenergy having different voltages.

[0054] In the described arrangement, circuitry 34 is arranged to applyelectrical energy from supply 60 to storage circuitry 30 to chargeand/or maintain electrochemical devices 32 and to apply electricalenergy from storage circuitry 30 to first interface 36 and/or secondinterface 38 for application to respective present loads 62, 64.Converters 40, 48 are configured to receive electrical energy which mayhave a variable voltage from storage circuitry 30 and to provideelectrical energy of a substantial constant voltage for application torespective loads 62, 64.

[0055] Although converter 40 is configured as a boost converter andconverter 48 is configured as a step-down converter in the describedexemplary embodiment, the converters 40, 48 may be individuallyconfigured to implement other conditioning operations corresponding tothe respective loads 62, 64. For example, converter 40 may be arrangedto reduce the voltage of received electrical energy and converter 48 maybe arranged to increase the voltage of received electrical energy inother exemplary embodiments.

[0056] FIGS. 4-10 depict exemplary circuit configurations of componentsshown in FIG. 3. The depicted circuit configurations comprise exemplaryarrangements according to aspects of the invention. Other configurationsare possible. In addition, the configuration of power supply apparatus10 shown in FIG. 3, and the depicted components thereof, are exemplaryand other arrangements including more, less or other components arepossible.

[0057] Referring to FIG. 4, an exemplary configuration of firstinterface 36 is illustrated. First interface 36 comprises a connectiondevice 80 configured to couple with high-power connector 16 (FIG. 6).The illustrated connection device 80 includes six pins for coupling withhigh-power connector 16.

[0058] VAC1 shown in FIG. 4 identifies electrical energy received fromsupply 60. VAC1 and VSNS1 of FIG. 4 are coupled with sense resistor 70of FIG. 6 and are utilized by charge circuitry 42 (FIGS. 7A-7C) tocontrol the amount of current drawn from supply 60 via VPOWER1 by chargecircuitry 42 to maintain and/or charge storage circuitry 30.

[0059] VOUT1 is electrical energy received from boost converter 40 to beapplied to load 62. NBCONP controls the switching device FET 82 toselectively couple the boost converter 40 with connector 16. Uponcoupling of connector 16 with interface 36, NBCOMP is pulled low byconnector 16 which enables boost converter 40 and turns on FET 82 tocouple boost converter 40 with connector 16 enabling application ofelectrical energy from converter 40 to load 62. NBVID is a signal frompull-down resistor 72 of connector 16 and is utilized to set an outputvoltage of boost converter 40.

[0060] Referring to FIG. 5, an exemplary configuration of secondinterface 38 is illustrated. Second interface 38 comprises a connectiondevice 84 configured to couple with low-power connector 18 (FIG. 9). Theillustrated connection device 84 includes six pins for coupling with lowpower connector 18.

[0061] Referring to FIG. 6, an exemplary configuration of high-powerconnector 16 is illustrated. Connector 16 includes sense resistor 70,pull-down resistor 72, and a connection device 86 to couple withconnection device 80 of the interface 36. The pin numbering of device 86is inverted relative to device 80 (e.g., pin 1 of device 80 couples withpin 6 of device 86). A connection device 88 is provided to couple withsupply 60 and connection device 90 provides electrical coupling withload 62.

[0062] Referring to FIGS. 7A-7C, an exemplary configuration of chargecircuitry 42 is illustrated according to the map of FIG. 7. Chargecircuitry 42 includes a current sense device 92, having productdesignation LT1621 and available from Linear Technology Corporation, anda battery charger device 94, having product designation LTC1735 andavailable from Linear Technology Corporation. When the input current onVPOWER1 exceeds a set threshold (e.g., 3.4 A), device 92 pulls the ITHsignal low to slow down the operation of device 94 enabling more powerto be delivered to load 62 from supply 60. In addition, VSNS1 and VAC1are current sense lines for input power limiting and are rundifferentially to device 92. VCHARGE is coupled with storage circuitry30 via switch device circuitry 44 and corresponds to electrical energyapplied to devices 32.

[0063] Referring to FIGS. 8A-8B, an exemplary configuration of boostconverter 40 is illustrated according to the map of FIG. 8. Boostconverter 40 includes pull-up resistor 74 and an integrated circuit 96having product designation LT1370CR available from Linear TechnologyCorporation. VCHARGE is electrical energy received from storagecircuitry 30 via switch device circuitry 44. VOUT1 is electrical energyhaving an increased voltage for application to first interface 36 andload 62.

[0064] NBCOMP is pulled low upon coupling of high-power connector 16with interface 36 which enables circuit 96. However, if supply 60 isalso coupled with and providing electrical energy to connector 16, thenVAC1 overrides NBCOMP to disable circuit 96 and boost converter 40.

[0065] Referring to FIG. 9, an exemplary arrangement of low-powerconnector 18 is shown. The depicted connector 18 includes pull-downresistor 76, a connection device 98, an integrated circuit 100 havingproduct designation LTC1540, available from Linear TechnologyCorporation, and a connection device 102. Connection device 98 isconfigured to couple with low-power load 64. Integrated circuit 100 isconfigured to disable FET 106 if a failure or short occurs (e.g.,step-down converter 48 fails) to protect load 64. Connection device 102is configured to couple with connection device 84 of interface 38 (thepin numbers of devices 84 and 102 are inverted with respect to oneanother).

[0066] FIGS. 10A-10B show an exemplary arrangement of step-downconverter 48 according to the map of FIG. 10. Converter 48 includes anintegrated circuit device 104 having product designation LTC1266available from Linear Technology Corporation. VCHARGE is electricalenergy received from storage circuitry 30 via circuitry 44. VOUT2 isconverted electrical energy applied to second interface 38 forapplication to load 64.

[0067] CPCONP from interface 38 (FIG. 5) is pulled low by connector 18responsive to coupling of connector 18 with interface 38 to enabledevice 104 and converter 48 and enable provision of electrical energyfrom converter 48 to interface 38. Pull-down resistor 76 (FIG. 9)provides a signal LPVID1, CPVID which operates to set the output voltageof electrical energy applied from converter 48 to interface 38. In thedepicted exemplary embodiment of resistor 76 being 34 kOhms, an outputvoltage of approximately 5 Volts is provided Other resistors 76 havingdifferent resistance values may be utilized to provide other outputvoltages of converter 48.

[0068] In compliance with the statute, the invention has been describedin language more or less specific as to structural and methodicalfeatures. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is notlimited to the specific features shown and described, since the meansherein disclosed comprise preferred forms of putting the invention intoeffect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms ormodifications within the proper scope of the appended claimsappropriately interpreted in accordance with the doctrine ofequivalents.

1. A power supply apparatus comprising: an electrochemical deviceconfigured to store electrical energy; a first interface coupled withthe electrochemical device and adapted to couple with a supplyconfigured to provide electrical energy and a first load configured toreceive electrical energy; and charge circuitry coupled intermediate thefirst interface and the electrochemical device, wherein the chargecircuitry is configured to monitor a quantity of electrical energysupplied from the supply to the first load and to control a supply ofelectrical energy to the electrochemical device responsive to themonitoring and to charge the electrochemical device.
 2. The apparatus ofclaim 1 further comprising a second interface coupled with theelectrochemical device and adapted to provide electrical energy from theelectrochemical device to a second load, wherein the first load has apower rating greater than a power rating of the second load.
 3. Theapparatus of claim 2 wherein the first load has a power rating in excessof 20 watts and the second load has a power rating less than 20 watts.4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electrochemical device comprisesa lithium cell having a lithium-mixed metal electrode.
 5. The apparatusof claim 1 further comprising a boost converter coupled intermediate theelectrochemical device and the first interface and configured to receiveelectrical energy from the electrochemical device, to increase a voltageof the electrical energy received from the electrochemical device, andto provide the electrical energy of the increased voltage to the firstinterface for application to the first load.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1further comprising: a second interface; and a step-down convertercoupled intermediate the electrochemical device and the second interfaceand configured to receive electrical energy from the electrochemicaldevice, to decrease a voltage of the electrical energy received from theelectrochemical device, and to provide the electrical energy of thedecreased voltage to the second interface for application to a secondload coupled with the second interface.
 7. A power supply apparatuscomprising: an electrochemical device configured to store electricalenergy; a first interface coupled with the electrochemical device andadapted to couple with a supply configured to provide electrical energyand a first load configured to receive electrical energy; and a boostconverter coupled intermediate the electrochemical device and the firstinterface and configured to receive electrical energy from theelectrochemical device, to operate in an enabled mode of operation toincrease a voltage of the electrical energy received from theelectrochemical device and to provide the electrical energy of theincreased voltage to the first interface for application to the firstload, to detect a presence of the supply, and to operate in a disabledmode of operation wherein the boost converter ceases provision of theelectrical energy to the first interface responsive to the detection ofthe presence of the supply.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7 furthercomprising a connector adapted to couple with the supply and the firstload, and wherein the connector is configured to removably electricallycouple with the first interface and the boost converter is configured tooperate in the enabled mode of operation responsive to the coupling ofthe connector and the first interface.
 9. The apparatus of claim 7further comprising charge circuitry coupled intermediate the firstinterface and the electrochemical device.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9wherein the charge circuitry is configured to monitor a quantity ofelectrical energy supplied from the supply to the first load and tocontrol a quantity of electrical energy applied to the electrochemicaldevice to charge the electrochemical device responsive to themonitoring.
 11. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the electrochemicaldevice comprises a lithium cell having a lithium-mixed metal electrode.12. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising: a second interface; anda step-down converter coupled intermediate the electrochemical deviceand the second interface and configured to receive electrical energyfrom the electrochemical device, to decrease a voltage of the electricalenergy received from the electrochemical device, and to provide theelectrical energy of the decreased voltage to the second interface forapplication to a second load coupled with the second interface.
 13. Apower supply apparatus comprising: electrical energy storage circuitrycomprising a lithium cell having a lithium-mixed metal electrode; aninterface coupled with the storage circuitry and adapted to couple witha supply configured to provide electrical energy and a load configuredto receive electrical energy; and circuitry coupled intermediate theinterface and the electrochemical device, wherein the circuitry isconfigured to apply electrical energy from the supply to the storagecircuitry to charge the storage circuitry and to apply electrical energyfrom the storage circuitry to the interface for application to the load.14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the circuitry comprises aconverter configured to receive electrical energy having a variablevoltage from the storage circuitry and to apply electrical energy fromthe storage circuitry to the interface having a substantially constantvoltage.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the converter comprises aboost converter.
 16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the convertercomprises a step-down converter.
 17. The apparatus of claim 14 furthercomprising a connector adapted to couple with the supply and the load,and wherein the connector is configured to removably electrically couplewith the interface and to control the converter to provide theelectrical energy of the substantially constant voltage.
 18. Theapparatus of claim 13 further comprising: another interface; and astep-down converter coupled intermediate the storage circuitry and theanother interface and configured to receive electrical energy from thestorage circuitry, to decrease a voltage of the electrical energyreceived from the storage circuitry, and to provide the electricalenergy of the decreased voltage to the another interface for applicationto another load coupled with the another interface.
 19. A method ofsupplying electrical energy comprising: first applying electrical energyfrom a supply to a load; second applying electrical energy from anelectrochemical device to the load; charging the electrochemical deviceusing electrical energy from the supply; monitoring the first applying;and controlling the charging responsive to the monitoring.
 20. Themethod of claim 19 further comprising third applying electrical energyfrom the electrochemical device during the second applying to anotherload having a power rating less than a power rating of the load.
 21. Themethod of claim 19 further comprising adjusting at least one electricalcharacteristic of the electrical energy from the electrochemical devicebefore the second applying.
 22. The method of claim 21 wherein the firstapplying and the second applying individually comprise applying using aconnector, and further comprising controlling the adjusting using theconnector.
 23. The method of claim 19 further comprising providing theelectrochemical device comprising a lithium cell having a lithium-mixedmetal electrode.
 24. A method of supplying electrical energy comprising:providing electrical energy using an electrochemical device; adjustingan electrical characteristic of the electrical energy from theelectrochemical device; providing the electrical energy from theelectrochemical device to a load after the adjusting; detecting thepresence of a supply; and ceasing the providing of the electrical energyfrom the electrochemical device to the load responsive to the detecting.25. The method of claim 24 further comprising: selecting one of aplurality of removable connections corresponding to the load; couplingthe selected removable connection intermediate the electrochemicaldevice and the load, and wherein the providing the electrical energy tothe load comprises using the removable connection after the coupling;and controlling the adjusting using the connection.
 26. The method ofclaim 24 further comprising: coupling a removable connectionintermediate the electrochemical device and the load, and wherein theproviding the electrical energy to the load comprises using theremovable connection after the coupling and wherein the adjustingcomprises adjusting using a converter; and enabling the converterresponsive to the coupling.
 27. The method of claim 26 wherein theceasing comprises disabling the converter.
 28. The method of claim 26wherein the ceasing comprises opening a switch intermediate theconverter and the removable connection.
 29. The method of claim 24further comprising providing the electrochemical device comprising alithium cell having a lithium-mixed metal electrode.
 30. The method ofclaim 24 wherein the adjusting comprises increasing a voltage of theelectrical energy from the electrochemical device, and furthercomprising: decreasing a voltage of electrical energy from theelectrochemical device; and providing the electrical energy having thedecreased voltage to another load.
 31. A method of supplying electricalenergy comprising: providing a battery comprising a plurality ofelectrochemical devices individually comprising a lithium cell having alithium-mixed metal electrode; coupling a supply with the lithium cells;coupling the lithium cells with a load; charging the lithium cells usingthe supply; disconnecting the supply; and applying electrical energyfrom the lithium cells to the load when the supply is disconnected fromthe load.
 32. The method of claim 31 wherein the coupling the supplycomprises coupling the supply with the load, and further comprisingapplying electrical energy from the supply to the load during thecoupling of the supply and the load.
 33. The method of claim 31 furthercomprising increasing a voltage of the electrical energy from thelithium cells, and wherein the applying comprises applying after theincreasing.
 34. The method of claim 33 wherein the increasing comprisesincreasing using a converter, and wherein the coupling the supplycomprises coupling the supply with the load, and further comprisingdisabling the converter during the coupling of the supply with the load.35. The method of claim 33 further comprising: decreasing a voltage ofelectrical energy from the lithium cells; and applying the electricalenergy having the decreased voltage to another load.